Lucky Seven

I Never Knew That . . .

Posted on May 13, 2010 by crystal

Guess what?

It’s time for another edition of Lucky Seven! 😀

This week, I have . . .

7 Little Known Facts!

1. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

2. The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra’s “Its A Wonderful Life”.

3. Married men revealed that they change their underwear twice as often as single men.

4. If you were to spell out numbers in words – one, two, three, etc., how far would you have to go until you would find the letter “A”? — One thousand!

5. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common? — All were invented by women.

6. A duck’s quack doesn’t echo, and no one knows why.

7. 40% of all people who come to a party in your home snoop in your medicine cabinet.

I‘ll bet you know a bit of trivia that would dazzle us!

Won’t you share it? 😉

Hugs,

Lucky Seven – Signs of Spring

Posted on March 30, 2010 by crystal

When Spring begins, it often seems as if Mother Nature is toying with us . . .

One weekend it’s sunny and gorgeous with temperatures in the 70’s. Then, suddenly, the temperatures drop to the 40’s, with biting winds and flooding rains. No coat is needed one day; a hat and mittens are required the next! It’s enough to make you feel like a yo-yo.

What can we do to cope with such trauma? Well, we could console ourselves by searching for “Signs of Spring”! 🙂

This week’s Lucky Seven includes some of my favorites. Please add yours, too!

7 Sights, Scents, Sounds, and Signs of Spring:

1. Windows that are open and the scent of spring flowers wafting through the house.

2. The sound of the spring peepers! These tiny little frogs have an uncanny ability to begin their chorus on the first day of spring!

3. Pussy willows and forsythia

4. Packing away the heavy coats for “sweater weather”!

5. Birds chirping merrily at sunrise.

6. Easter lilies and jelly beans at the supermarket

7. Finally, the most comical sign that spring has sprung is that guy who seems to be at every shopping mall on the first mild day. He’s very easy to spot! While most of us have left our coats at home, this guy is sporting short-shorts, a tank top and flip-flops. We always giggle a little, and conclude that he has that outfit waiting by the door, to slip into the moment the temperature hits 60 degrees! We always wonder what he’ll do on a day that’s 95!

What makes you think, “It’s Spring!” 🙂

Lucky Seven – Best Time To . . .

Posted on March 24, 2010 by crystal

Ever wonder when is the best time to eat? or to sleep?

I have.

Well, ok, not often – but I have. 😉

So, just for fun, I scoured the internet in search of the answers!

For this week’s Lucky Seven, here are:

7 Best Times to . . .

1. Best time to sleep: 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. Get up with the sun!

2. Best time to read: Between 9:00 am and noon for reading that requires concentration.

3. Best time to eat dinner: 4 hours before bedtime

4. Best time to lose weight: Spring and Summer

5. Best time to study: Between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Long term memory is best then.

6. Best time to laugh: As often as possible.

7. Best time to share a smile: All the time!

( I’m smiling at you right this very second! 🙂 )

Posted on February 16, 2010 by crystal

Are you ready for another installment of Lucky Seven?

This week, it’s 7 Tips to Live Longer! 😀

1. Love in Your Life
Whether it’s family, friends, your partner, or your pets – make sure that you have a generous dose of love in your world! It’s one of the best “vitamins” you can take!

2. Exercise
It doesn’t have to be a rigorous regimen at the gym. Studies continue to suggest that walking is the ideal exercise.

3. Laugh!
It turns out that the old saying – “Laughter is the best medicine.” – has some real truth behind it! Laughing decreases stress so it boosts your immune system! In addition, cardiologists have discovered that laughter actually improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help prevent heart attacks.

4. Flex Your Mental Muscles
A brain not challenged is a brain that can become stagnant. As we age, it’s important to keep ourselves engaged in new interests, hobbies, and games. Not only will life be more interesting if you avoid the “same old, same old” – but you’ll be stimulating your brain to grow and stay healthy throughout your life.

5. Never Diet; Eat Properly.
Starving yourself, yo-yo dieting, and eating without proper attention to good nutrition are all unhealthy ways to lose weight. They put undue stress on your body and wreak havoc with your metabolism. Aristotle’s belief – “everything in moderation” is the perfect mantra for maintaining a balanced diet!

6. Regular Check-Ups
Life can get hectic, but make sure that a visit to the doctor is a top priority in your schedule. What could be more important than YOU?

7. Start Now!
It’s never too late to begin healthy habits that will make your life longer and happier! 😀

Getting Organized

Posted on January 20, 2010 by crystal

There’s something about January that sets the mood to get organized. I suppose it’s really a combination of things that can have us thinking that way.

First there’s the packing away of the holiday decorations – a mini feat of organization in itself!

Then there’s that extra time indoors since the weather is often cold and inclement. Suddenly, there’s time to notice the clutter!

Finally, the mere act of switching to a new calendar can often touch a primal urge to start fresh and create more order in our world. 🙂

In this spirit, today’s Lucky Seven features:

7 Quick Tips to make life a little easier!

1. Use small stick-on labels to date the items in your pantry that are kept for long periods of time – like spices, flour, condiments, and baking powder. By writing the date they’re opened, you’ll know at a glance if they’ve been around too long and need to be replaced.

2. Give each family member his own mesh laundry bag in which to toss dirty socks during the week. When they come out of the dryer – no sorting needed!

3. Place a coat rack in the guest room – even if it’s just one of those over-the-door styles. It will be much more convenient for you or your guests to retrieve their coats, than from your overstuffed closet!

4. Onto each recipe that you make regularly, clip a list of the “to buy” ingredients – the ones that are not staples in your home. Then when you’re making a grocery list – you won’t have to check and re-check the entire recipe to find all the items you need to buy.

5. Whenever you’re serving food or drinks in a room other than the kitchen, use a tray! It saves trips for serving and for cleaning up, too!

6. Before painting a wall that has a large group of photos, or before clearing shelves of knick-knacks for a major dusting, take a photo! You’ll be able to put everything back exactly as you had it.

7. To make chores easier to bear, swap with your spouse or roommate! Trade a list of three things you hate to do for three things he hates to do. You may not always like what you get in exchange but at least it will be different.